I also am using the stock battery until it quits. No problem so far.
I got my winch mounting plate from Diesel Freak.
I am using a Harbor Freight ZXR 12000# winch converted to synthetic line. I probably should have caught the APEX 12000# Winch on sale. I did not plan on changing out the steel cable to start with, so I went with the ZXR 12000# instead for $250 on a really good sale.
NOTE: The Winch Plate did not mount forward far enough for a Roller Fairlead to overhang the front bumper using the stock holes in the frame. You may need to re-drill all Four Holes, and install washers to clear the Top of the Bumper. Look it all over carefully before mounting the Winch Plate and Winch. The Hawse Fairlead for synthetic line should clear with no issues using the factory holes.
I drilled a couple extra holes and mounted Tow Hooks on the frame rails at the same time that I installed the Winch. I use the Harbor Freight Tow Hooks more than I do the Winch.
NOTE: Installing the Tow Hooks, I could not use the provided Nut Plate, and I had to use Six Nuts with Shoulders to mount the Winch as well as the Tow Hooks. I made up a LONG Box End Wrench by welding two Pawn Shop metric Box End Wrenches together. Heat and take the offset out of the end used to hold the Nuts inside the Frame Rails.
Bob R
